Andy Capostagno
The New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) may have cause to regret its decision to challenge Rugby World Cup (RWC) over its right to co-host next year’s tournament.
Last-minute talks are under way in Australia, but there is a feeling that both the Australian Rugby Union and RWC are much happier with Australia as the sole host, something that may come as a shock to the insular committees of New Zealand.
The NZRFU set up a smokescreen by claiming that the World Cup would adversely affect its version of the Currie Cup, the National Provincial Championship. The real problem seems to have been that advertisers and debenture holders in New Zealand would be ousted for the duration of the World Cup.
The NZRFU’s claim that only the International Rugby Board can strip them of their co-host status is patent hogwash. RWC is a body that operates independently of the international board and is solely concerned with making as much money out of the World Cup as possible, a goal enhanced by keeping it in one country.
Australia has the support of South Africa, which is still seething over New Zealand’s refusal to expand the Super 12 to 14 teams.